Shield or protector for bottles.



Patented Aug. I5, I899.

H. SEELIN GER. SHIELD 0R PROTECTOR FUR BOTTLES.

(Application filed Apr. 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

jnverzi'ov w zifiwyaas he: wins PETERS 60-. PnO'fo mm. wumm'rou, our

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SEELINGER, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

SHIELD-OR PROTECTOR FOR BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 631,182, dated August 15, 1899. Application filed April 19, 1899- Serial No. 713,588. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY SEELINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Shields or Protectors for Bottles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a shield or protector adapted for use upon bottles while extracting corks therefrom.

It is well known that bottles frequently break while being held in the hand during the removal of the stopper, the danger of such breakage being greatest when the bottle contains champagne, mineral waters, or other liquids under pressure, and frequently resulting in more or less serious injury to the hand of the operator.

The object of my invention is to provide a shield to prevent injury to the hand in case of breakage of the bottle and possessing the characteristics hereinafter fully described, and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a bottle provided with my improved shield, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of. the same.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a bottle, and the shield or protector consists of a casing 2, conforming to the contour of the bottle and open at top and bottom to permit of its being slipped on the bottle. The upper end 3 of the casing is contracted to correspond to the'tapering form of the bottle, and through the opening-4 the neck of the bottle extends.

The casing 2 is preferably formed of sheet metal, and at or near its'upper end is provided an annular head 5, the inner concave side of which constitutes a seat or recess to receive a yielding ring 6, of rubber or other suitable material, which serves as a cushion or packing between the bottle and casing. The lower end of the'casing 2 extends slightly below the bottom of the bottle and is formed at diametrically opposite points with horizontally-elongated slots 7. At each side of the casing 2,above these slots 7, is secured a spring 8, the upper ends of said spring being secured to the casing, while their lower ends are bent outwardly to form finger-pieces 9, then inwardly to form arms 10, which project through slots 7 to engage below the bottom of the bottle, and thus detachably secure the bottle and projecting shield together. The ends of the arms 10 are bent downward to form lugs 11, which facilitate the insertion of the bottle within the shield, the contact of the tapering upper partof the bot-tle with the lugs 11 serving to force the springs apart. As soon as the bottom or lower end of the bottle passes the springs the latter resume their normal position, the arms-10 serving as a support upon which the bottle'rests.

While the springs herein shown and described are practical and effective for the purpose of detachably securing the shield in place upon the bottle, it is obvious that the same result might be accomplished by a variety of forms of spring-catches, and I would therefore have it understood that my invention comprehends any construction of catch or support which may fall within the scope of the appended claims, the distinguishing characteristics being that the fastening devices are operated by the insertion of the bottle into the shield.

The utilty of the shield will be readily understood from the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be apparent that the same may be quickly applied to a bottle and readily removed therefrom byiorcing the spring outward by means of their finger-pieces.

I claim as my invention- 1. A shield or protector for bottles, comprising a casing adapted to fit over a bottle and provided. with slots or openings near its lower end, and spring-catches secured to the casing and projecting through said slots or openings.

2. A shield or protector for bottles comprising a casing open at top and bottom, and formed with diametrically opposite openings near it lower end, and springs secured to the lower end, spring-catches secured to the easing above the base thereof, the upper portion of the spring-catches resting against the outside of the casing and the lower ends projected through said slots or openings, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SEELINGER.

Witnesses:

FLORIAN S. THOLL, F. W. ADAMS. 

